DUSHANBE, October 26, 2009, Asia-Plus – Russia plans to build three small hydropower plants in Tajikistan and hopes to obtain a controlling stake in the project, the Russian energy minister said Sunday (October 25), RIA Novosti reported.

Sergey Shmatko told journalists: "We count on a controlling stake in these plants and hope for the Tajik side''s understanding," adding that Russia will account for most part of the investment into the project.

We will recall that Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and his Russian counterpart, President Dmitry Medvedev, met on October 22 during President Rahmon''s visit to Moscow and pledged, among other things, to settle differences on energy projects.

Shmatko earlier said the two countries have overcome differences on a $30 million debt for electricity supplied to Tajikistan by the Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant, and are set to sign documents on the repayment schedule.